The dangers of wanting to lose weight with diabetes medications

The scientific community warns: neither the effectiveness nor the safety of diabetes medications to lose weight is confirmed.This has not stopped the 'influencers'.

Since it gained popularity on the Internet, the Ozempic diabetes medicine (semaglutida) has been increasingly used to control weight.Now, there is a shortage that is affecting type 2 diabetes patients who need it.

Billionaire Elon Musk says he helped him lose weight;Pink press websites claim that many other stars use it to stay in shape;And Tiktok is full of influencers that show his surprising photos of the before and after his weight loss after using it.

What is it about?A medication called Semaglutida, which in the United States is sold under different brand names, including Ozempic and Wegovy.Both are marketed in Spain, but are subject to strict monitoring.The first with a "black triangle warning."The second was approved at the end of 2021 "as a complement to a hypocaloric diet and an increase in physical activity for weight control, including loss and maintenance of weight," according to the Spanish Medicine Agency.

In Spain there are already several media that have echoed this use of the diabetes medicine and some centers even announce it as a solution for overweight.But, in the United States they have already passed to the next level and is beginning to become a problem.

According to the US Food and Medicines Administration, the stir caused by these medications has caused a shortage of both, which is expected to last several months, which has caused the alarm among patients with diabetes who depend on Ozempic forcontrol your blood sugar level.Experts warn that it is important to understand that it is not miraculous medications and that there are risks when taking them out of their planned use.

This is what you have to know about the semaglutida, including its operation and its risks.

What is the science behind the medicine?
Semaglutida helps reduce the blood sugar level imitating a hormone that is segregated naturally when food is consumed, says Ariana Chao, medical director of the weight center and eating disorders of the University of Pennsylvania.This medicine, which is administered through an injection, helps people feel satiated for a longer time, regulate appetite and reduce hunger and cravings.

In the United States there is an important demand for medication.In 2019, more than 11 percent of the population was diagnosed with diabetes, while more than four out of 10 adults described as obese in 2020. In Spain, according to data from the Ministry of Health "Diabetes affects between 5 and10% of the general population. "

In 2017, the United States food and medication administration approved the use of Ozempic in individuals with type 2 diabetes. These patients usually have low levels of insulin, a hormone that helps decompose food and turn them into fuel that the body canUse, says Chao.Ozempic indicates the pancreas that creates more insulin, which helps control blood sugar and also reduces glucagon, a hormone that raises sugar levels.This can lead to weight loss, but experts point out that Ozempic has not been approved for that purpose.

Wegovy was approved just last year for obese or overweight patients, the first drug since 2014 to be approved for chronic weight control.The difference between both drugs is that Wegovy is administered with a higher dose of semaglutida than Ozempic;Clinical trials have shown more weight loss, but only modest improvements inThe glycemic control with this highest dose, says Chao.

What are the risks?
As with all medications, there may be inconveniences.The most common side effects are gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea, constipation and diarrhea, says Chao, and more rarely, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease and diabetic retinopathy.

These drugs have been studied widely, but their relatively recent approval means that researchers still do not know what are the effects of taking them in the long term.There are also few data on what happens when people stop taking them suddenly, which many can be forced to do in the midst of the current scarcity.

The investigations do suggest that the interruption of the use of this medication could cause patients to recover weight, especially if they did not make any change in their lifestyle.

"In almost all studies on weight loss, it really depends on its base," says Stanford endocrinologist (United States) Sun Kim."Your efforts in lifestyle will determine the amount of weight you lose. If you have your bases such as food, exercise and sleep, it will do well."If not, you could recover up to 20 percent of the lost weight per year.

In the United States, these medications can also be incredibly expensive, especially without insurance.Kim says that an injectable pen can cost more than 1000 euros.

What does the use outside what is indicated mean?
Using an out -of -the -minded medication means using it in a different way from the one planned and its purpose approved by the FDA, which may not be safe or effective.The Ozempic has been approved only for type 2 diabetics, and wegovy only for patients with an BMI greater than 30, or 27 if they have a comorbidity related to weight, such as blood pressure.

"There is no scientific evidence to demonstrate whether this medicine will be effective or beneficial for those who do not conform to the criteria of the label approved by the FDA," says Chao."We don't know the side effects or risks in these populations either: there could be unknown reactions to the medication."Obesity is a chronic disease.These medications are not intended to be a quick solution. "

Even if the criteria are fulfilled, experts warn that you should not try to get the medication without a recipe traveling to countries that do not demand it.

"When the medication is not used under the supervision of a healthcare professional, then they can enter into a misuse," says Chao."More serious adverse effects can occur."

Experts also argue that, given the difficulty of finding Ozempic, patients with diabetes should have priority: "What worries me, and I hope it is only temporary, it is the problem of the supply chain," says Kim."If I had to make a triage and prioritize, it would may favor someone who is controlling their diabetes to get it; I would prefer that it was available for people who need it."

Robert Gabbay, scientific director and doctor of the American Diabetes Association, says that the organization is "very concerned" about Ozempic's shortage.

"The medicine has been an important tool for people with diabetes," he says."Not only reduces the level of blood glucose and weight, but has shown that cardiovascular events (heart attacks) decrease, one of the main causes of death of those who live with diabetes."

One last resort?
Even so, Kim says that prescribing medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy to patients who are desperate for a new approach to lose weight can make it feel "as a superheroine."When patients come to it, they have often tried methods like WeightWatchers and follow the advice of dietitians.In that case, he says, medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy can be a great option.

"What I find is that sometimes, as they succeed in weight loss, this is also reflected in their lifestyle, and then they are able to be more active," says Kim."It is difficult to lose weight. 75% of the American population has overweight or obesity. I think we should not delay it if this can help."

Chao agrees that these medications are a good alternative for those who are not able to lose 5 percent of their body weight in about three months after making changes in their lifestyle.Even so, recommend trying those approaches before resorting to medication.

Patients should "make sure they focus on a healthy dietary pattern, reducing calories, as well as increasing physical activity as a kind of first line," he says."It is important that they know that, even if they take medication, it is not an easy way out: they will have to continue making changes in their lifestyle."

Source: National Geographic